On January 31, 1945, U.S. Army Private Eddie Slovik was strapped to a post in a French courtyard and executed by a firing squad.  He was the only individual put to death for the crime of desertion under fire during World War Two.  Several thousand others were so sentenced, but had that sentence reduced to long terms in military prison.

Yesterday, Army Colonel Jeffery Nance, the presiding judge in the military trial of admitted U.S. Army deserter Bowe Bergdahl, rendered his verdict.  Bergdahl was reduced in rank, forfeited over $10,000 in back pay, and given a dishonorable discharge.  He was not sentenced to a day in prison.  In the opinion of many, myself included, this was a travesty of enormous proportions.

Bergdahl admitted that he had laid down his weapon and willingly left his post in Afghanistan in June of 2009, thereby endangering his fellow soldiers, several of whom were maimed or killed during subsequent attempts to gain his release from the Taliban insurgents who had captured him.

In May of 2014.  Bergdahl was released from captivity in a trade arranged by the Obama administration, which released five very dangerous Taliban leaders who had been captured on the battlefield in Afghanistan and were then being held at the prison facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  This incredible deal was arranged supposedly because of a military policy to “leave no one left behind” on the battlefield.  High sounding verbiage, but was it supposed to apply to deserters as well?

Can we ever forget the high profile Rose Garden news conference where Bergdahl’s mother and father were introduced to the public as the parents of what amounted to an American hero?  That tawdry affair left a bad taste in the mouth of those who knew the true circumstances behind Bergdahl’s disappearance.  To the best of my knowledge not one of his squad members, those who knew him best, has come to his defense in this matter.  Not necessary if a President and his left leaning supporters are willing to ignore or excuse your actions.

So, Bowe Bergdahl walked free.  Those killed or maimed unfortunately did not.  They or their families will suffer the consequences of his actions for the rest of their lives

In closing, I say shame on Colonel Nance and former Private Bergdahl.  You have dishonored the uniform you wear or wore, and the principles and ideals it represents.  Those of us who are proud of our military and the sacrifices it’s members make to keep us free and secure will never forgive or forget you.